Portable elevator



April 1965 H. R. BERGMAN ETAL 3,178,048

PORTABLE ELEVATOR Filed March 19, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Howneu R. BseaMn/v atent dlgfid Patented Apr. 13, 1965 line 3,178,048 PGRTABLE ELEVATOR Howard R. Bergman and Charles H. Bergman, both of 6166 Karle, Wayne, Mich. Filed Mar. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 180,565 4 Claims. (El. [M -672 This invention relates to a portable elevator, and more particularly to a lightweight, easily portable device for lifting building materials from one level to another.

There has been a long felt need in the building industry for a portable elevator which can be easily handled by one or two men. Portable elevators proposed in the past have been heavy, bulky devices requiring the strength of several men to erect and move. Such elevators are not practical for the builder who is constructing a small building. In constructing small buildings, there are usually only a few men available to handle a portable elevator. Preferably, a portable elevator in such an instance should be handleable by no more than two men. Additionally, the elevator should be easily movable from point to point on the building structure because small buildings are erected relatively quickly and the elevator may need to be moved several times a day.

According to the present invention, an easily portable, lightweight elevator is provided which is simple to erect and which may be hauled behind an ordinary automobile for transportation from job to job.

It is an object or" the invention to provide a lightweight portable elevator adapted for lifting building materials from the ground level to a working level.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable elevator having a sectional column for mounting a load carrying platform, the column being extendable by the addition of more sections to permit the load carrying platform to be raised to higher levels as needed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wheeled base for mounting the column, the base having three wheels engageable with the ground when the elevator is in use, and being tipable to a position where only two of the wheels engage the ground to act as a trailer when being hauled by a vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connection between the wheeled base and the column permitting the column to be rotated with reference to the horizontal plane and also to be pivoted towards or away from the horizontal plane to thus permit the column to be adjusted to different positions as required for erection and to be folded into the base for attachment to a vehicle for hauling the elevator from job to job.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

FESURE l is a side elevational view of one embodiment of the portable elevator of the present invention shown erected with the column in a vertical position and supported by a strut;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the FIGURE 1 embodiment taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a view in perspective of the juncture of two column sections showin the means for attaching one section to another;

FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view of the portable elevator showing the column structure supported on a scaffold;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the column showing the addition of a third section thereto; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view showing the portable elevator attached to an automobile for towing.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring to FIGURE 1, it can be seen that a column lll having a load carrying platform 12 is piv-otably mounted on a wheeled base 14.

The column 16 is a sectional structure, having an upper section 16 and a lower section 18. Each section is a framework consisting of parallel trusses connected together by pipe and having angle iron cross-braces welded at regular interval. The sections 16, 18 are connected together as shown in FIGURE 3. Each truss has a block 20, 22 welded thereto on an inside corner. One of the blocks 20 has a pin 24 which is received in an opening 26 provided in the second block 22. The pin 24- has an opening 28 which receives a smaller pin 3% inserted through opening 32 in the block 22 to secure the assembly together.

The lower corner of the section 16 truss has an car 34 which is received in an opening 36 defined by rings 38, 4h welded to the section 18 truss. The ear 34 has an openin 42 and the rings 38, 4t) have openings 44 to receive a pin 4s. The pin 46 is inserted through these openings when the ear is positioned between the rings 38, 4t) and the assembly is locked in place by a cotter pin 43 which is received in an opening 56) in the pin 45.

The lower end of the column section 13 tapers to a reduced portion and has plates 52 which are received between a pair of brackets 54. The section 18 is secured to the brackets 54 by pins 56 and is thus pivota'ole towards or away from the horizontal plane. The brackets 54 are secured together by a platform structure 58 which is secured to base member 60 by a pin 62. The platform 58, and consequently the column lid, is thus rotatable about a vertical axis.

The base 14 has three wheels. Two of the wheels 64, 56 are mounted on an axle 68 which is secured to the base. The third wheel 70 is swively mounted on base portion 72 to permit steering of the base. A handle '74 is provided and is receivable in socket as provided on member 78 for manually propelling and steering the entire structure. The handle 74- may be removed from the socket 76 as shown in FIGURE 6 so that it will not project forwardly during towing of the structure. As shown in FIGURE 6, the handle may be stored on the base in an out-of-the-way position.

Power means 80 comprising a motor, gear box and electric brake are provided to drive the load carrying platform 1 2. The power means 80 is mounted on a platform structure 82 provided on the base of the column 1% The electric brake is provided in the power means so that the load carrying platform 12 will not coast back when raised to an elevated position. The power means is controlled by a switch mechanism 84 which is mounted on the column 10 at approximately a shoulder level position. A control cable as extends from the switch mechanism 84 to the power means and a power cable 88 extends from the switch mechanism 8d for plugging into any convenient source or" power. The electric motor in the power means is a reversible motor and can be run in either direction. The switch mechanism 84 has one button 99 to run the motor in a direction to move the load carrying platform upwardly. A second button 92 for stopping the motor and a third button 94 for running the platform in a downward direction. The switch mechanism has a tubular member 96 extending from one side thereof which is received in a hollow tube 98 carried on the column 18. The switch mechanism may be removed from the side in which it is shown positioned and secured to the opposite end of the tube 98 to facilitate operation of the elevator structure from either side of the column 10.

The load carrying platform 12 is mounted for movement on the column 10. The platform structure com prises a back member 100 and a bottom member 162 which are secured together and structurally reinforced by a strut 1494. The back member 100 carries a pair of plates 1%, 108 on each side. As may be seen in FIG- URE 3, each plate has a pair of rollers 110, 112, one of the rollers 11% riding on one side of a track 114 while the other roller 112 rides beneath the track 114 to thus anchor the structure 12 for movement on the column. The track 114 comprises an angle member which is secured to the column 1%.

The load carrying structure 12 is operatively connected to the power means 86 via a cable 116. The cable 116 extends from the back member 100, passes over a pulley 118 mounted on theupper column section 16, thence over a second pulley 120 also mounted on the upper section and is wound on a drum 122 mounted for rotation at the lower end of the lower column section 18. The drum 122 has a sprocket 124 and is drivingly connected to a sprocket 126 on the output shaft 128 of the power means by a chain 139. As will be appreciated, when it is desired to move the load carrying structure 12 upwardly, the motor is operated in a direction to wind the cable 116 onto the drum 122 thus pulling the structure 12 upwardly. When the structure 12 is to be moved downwardly, the motor is driven in the reverse direction and the structure 12 falls by gravity to its lowermost position.

A limit switch 132 (shown in FIGURE 2) is provided at the lower end of the column and a second limit switch 134 (shown in FIGURE 1) is provided at the upper end of the column to de-energize the power means at the lowermost and uppermost positions of the load carrying structure 12. As will be appreciated, the function of the limit switches 132, 134 is to prevent the load carrying structure 12 from overrunning the column 10.

The column 10 may be erected either with or without the use of an exterior support. As shown in FIGURE 1, a strut 136 is provided to erect the column without exterior support. The strut 136 is pivotably secured at its upper end to a bracket 138 provided on the lower column section 18 The lower end of the strut is detachably secured by pin 142 to a second bracket 140 provided on the base 14. The pin 142 may be removed and the strut swung towards the column as shown in dotted lines whereupon the lower end thereof is received in a bracket 7 144 and the pin 142 again inserted to secure the strut in this position. The function of the strut 136 is, of course, to support the column 10 in a vertical position.

As shown in FIGURE 4, the column 10 may he leaned against an exterior support, such as the scaffolding 146. When the column 10 is erected as shown in FIGURE 4, it is preferably rotated with respect to the base 14 so that the load onthe load carrying structure 12 will tend to push the base sidewise, in a direction opposite from normal wheel travel thus stabilizing the position of the base. The wheel 70 is also provided with a brake 71 to hold the base 14 from moving when the column 10 is in place on a support. As will be noted, a portion of the upper column section 16 extends above the level 148 of the scaffold 146. As a consequence, when the load carrying structure 12 is in its uppermost position, the bottom member 102 thereof will be substantially at the level 148 to facilitate unloading of the materials carried there With the column 16 erected as shown in FIGURE 1, the entire structure can be easily moved from place to place by one man. When the strut 136 is not used, and the column 18 is leaned against a scaffold as shown in FIGURE 4, it is necessary to have two men to move the structure, one man holding the column 10 and the second man manipulating the wheeled base 14. As will be appreciated, regardless of whether it is necessary to use one or two men to move the structure, it can be moved relatively quickly and easily from place to place with a minimum loss of work time. 7

FIGURE 5 illustrates the addition of a third column section 150 between the lower section 18 and upper section 16. The structure of the column section 150 is substantially the same as that for the other two sections excepting that it does not have mounted thereon thevarious components for operating the load carrying structure 12. Additional column sections may be added to increase the column length as desired. In one actual embodiment of the invention, it has been found that the length of the column may be varied from fifteen to fifty feet.

As previously mentioned, the elevator structure may be dismantled from a job and towed by a vehicle to a new location. To accomplish this, the column 10 is folded into the base 14. All of the column sections excepting the lower section 18 and the upper section 16 are then removed and may be secured to sections 16 and 18 for storage. The section 18 is rested on a bar 152 having an opening at each end and received on upright posts 154, 156. Coil springs 158, 160 are provided on the posts beneath the bar 152 to provide a resilient support therefor. Brackets 162, 164 are provided on the bar 152 to hold the section 18 against sideways movement.

As shown in FIGURE 6, when the section 18 is placed on the bar 152, the swivel wheel 70 will be tilted upwardly and the section 16 may be hitched to an automobile 166 whereby the entire structure is then towed as a two- Wheeled trailer.

As will be appreciated from the foregoing description of the portable elevator, the elevator is easily portable either with the column 10 erected or when secured to a vehicle. The column 10 may be pivoted to many different 7 positions and is adapted to be supported at any desired angle with reference to a scaffold or building structure. The materials for constructing the various components of the elevator are preferably of a lightweight nature to thereby make the entire structure movable with a minimum of manpower. 7

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A portable elevator comprising a wheeled base, said base including a swivel wheel structure and a pair of fixed direction wheels, a column pivotably secured at one end to the base, said column being pivotable about an axis substantially perepndicular to the horizontal plane and pivotable about an axis substantially parallel to the horizontal plane, a load carrying structure movably mounted on said column for up and down movement, and power means mounted on said column adjacent said base for driving said load carrying structure, said column being pivotable between the pair of fixed'direction wheels into a position substantially parallel to the plane of the base with the load carrying structure and power means being spaced from the base and the swivel wheel structure being lifted off the ground whereby the entire'portable elevator structure may be towed by a vehicle.

2. In a portable elevator, a three-wheeled base, one of said wheels being swively mounted for steering said base, a column pivotably secured at one end to the base, said column being pivotable to an upright position wherein all three of the wheels will engage the ground surface for movement of the structure along the ground surface, said column being pivotable to a position resting on said base and extending between the other pair of said wheels, said swively mounted wheel being lifted oil the ground surface when said column is in said last-mentioned position whereby said portable elevator is towable by a vehicle as a trailer, a load carrying structure movably mounted on said column for up and down movement, and power means for driving said load carrying structure.

3. In a portable elevator structure, a three-wheeled base, one of said wheels being swively mounted for steering said base, a column pivota-bly secured at one end to the base, a load carrying structure movably mounted on said column for up and down movement, and power means mounted on said column adjacent said base for driving said load carrying structure, said column being pivotable between the other pair of said Wheels and into a plane substantially parallel to the base with the load carrying structure and power means being spaced from 15 the base, said swively mounted Wheel being lifted ed the ground surface when said column is in said last-mentioned position whereby said portable elevator is towable by a vehicle as a trailer, said column being pivotable to an upright position wherein all three of the wheels will engage the ground surface for movement of the structure along the ground surface.

4. In a portable elevator, a three-wheeled base, one of said wheels being swively mounted for steering said base, a column pivotably secured at one end to the base, said column being pivotable to an upright position wherein all three of the wheels will engage the ground surface for movement of the structure along the ground surface, a detachable strut securable at one end to the base and at the other end to the column when said column is in an upright position to support the column in said position, said column being pivotable to a position resting on said base and extending between the other pair of said Wheels, said swively mounted wheel being lifted ofi the ground surface when said column is in said last-mentioned position whereby said portable elevator is towable by a vehicle as a trailer, a load carrying structure movably mounted on said column for up and down movement, and power means driving said load carrying structure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 440,045 11/90 Lewis 1 871 0 X 1,183,960 5/16 Ecker 182-103 X 1,481,002 1/24 Ferris 28062 2,25 8,918 10/41 Wagner 2l4-674 2,531,346 11/50 Schuchert 1872 2,582,548 1/ 52 Larson 189 -11 2,867,241 1/59 Tieslau 214-672 X 3,003,584 10/61 Wiegand 214-672 X FOREIGN PATENTS 345,998 6/60 Switzerland.

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

MGRRIS TEMIN, Examiner. 

1. A PORTABLE ELEVATOR COMPRISING A WHEELED BASE, SAID BASE INCLUDING A SWIVEL WHEEL STRUCTURE AND A PAIR OF FIXED DIRECTION WHEELS, A COLUMN PIVOTABLY SECURED AT ONE END OF THE BASE, SAID COLUMN BEING PIVOTABLE ABOUT AN AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE HORIZONTAL PLANE AND PIVOTABLE ABOUT AN AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE HORIZONTAL PLANE, A LOAD CARRYING STRUCTURE MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID COLUMN FOR UP AND DOWN MOVEMENT, AND POWER MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID COLUMN ADJACENT SAID BASE FOR DRIVING SAID LOAD CARRYING STRUCTURE, SAID COLUMN BEING PIVOTABLE BETWEEN THE PAIR OF FIXED DIRECTION WHEELS IN A POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF THE BASE WITH THE LOAD CARRYING STRUCTURE AND POWER MEANS BEING SPACED FROM THE BASE AND THE SWIVEL WHEEL STRUCTURE BEING LIFTED OFF THE GROUND WHEREBY THE ENTIRE PORTABLE ELEVATOR STRUCTURE MAY BE TOWED BY A VEHICLE. 